that she takes a sisterly interest in him because
Theo is so unsatisfactory; but there is no need to give him so much of
her company. Oh, no need at all, and it will only make people talk."
And here the careful elder sister sighed as though she were oppressed
with her responsibilities.

"Elizabeth is only thirty," she went on. "Why, that is quite young
nowadays, and after all David is not more than three or four years
younger. It is not the age that matters, or David's poverty, for Betty
has plenty of money of her own. But he is not good enough for her. She
is such a grand creature--when she marries she ought to have a husband
worthy of her--one whom she could honour and obey as well as love--a
man of intellect and power." Had a name suddenly occurred to Dinah, for
as she rose hastily a girlish blush came to her cheek? "I am quite
ashamed of myself," she whispered. "If there is one thing or person I
detest it is a match-maker. How could such an idea come into my head!"
But whatever idea it was, Dinah soon banished it, and before long both
the sisters were sleeping sweetly on their lavender-scented pillows.

Malcolm saw little of his hostesses the next day. Elizabeth spent the
greater part of the day at Rotherwood, and Dinah was busy with her
household duties. He and Cedric played tennis the most of the morning.
Then they lounged about the garden and woodlands in their flannels, and
chatted and smoked endless cigarettes, and after luncheon Cedric
ordered out the dog-cart and showed his friend some of the beauties of
the surrounding neighbourhood. They drove back through Rotherwood, and
as they turned the corner by the church they came upon Mr. Carlyon.
Malcolm did not recognise him at first in his straw hat, until he
hailed them in a cheery voice.

"Hallo, Cedric, are you going to cut me? Look here, my dear fellow, you
and Mr. Herrick must have some tea at my digging. It is a few steps
farther. The mare looks hot. Why don't you put her up at 'The Plough'
and let her have a feed and a rub down?" And as Cedric approved of this
arrangement, Malcolm was obliged to acquiesce, though he was inwardly
bored by the delay.

They had been out for hours, and he was rather weary of the lad's
chatter. Some new acquaintances of the name of Jacobi had been the
subject of Cedric's talk--a brother and sister living in Gresham
Gardens. It was in vain that Malcolm had repeated more than once that
he knew nothing of them. Cedric would no